Rotary sequence switch



C. A. PARKER ROTARY SEQUENCE SWITCH April 7, 1959 Filed Oct. 4, 1957FIG.I

AGENT United States Patent O 2,881,272 ROTARY SEQUENCE SWITCH Charles A.Parker, East Orange, NJ., assignor to Monroe Calculating MachineCompany, Orange, NJ., a corporation of Delaware Application October 4,1957, Serial No. 688,364 Claims. (Cl. 200-8) The present inventionrelates to electric switches of the rotary type and more particularly tosuch a switch wherein `a plurality of contact arms are mounted upon astationary portion of the switch to form a series of sequentiallyarranged groups of contacts which are caused to be engaged relative tosuccessive groups in novel manner by a circuit bridging means carriedupon the rotatable armature of the switch devices.

It is usual in the well-known computing machines employing switchboarddevices or the like wherein a plurality of coded circuits are utilizedfor the translation of amounts into or out of one machine for thepurpose of controlling another to effect the translating operationssequentially from either the higher to lower or from a lower to higherof the denominational orders provided in the machine. The codedarrangements embody a plurality of branch control circuits related toeach order and each individual branch circuit includes a make and breakcircuit means related thereto. It is of advantage to have such pluralityof make and break circuit means related to the corresponding orders ofthe branch circuits operate simultaneously in order to obtain a maximumnumber of places and speed of operation for a given switch size. Also,for computing machines of the above character it is imperative, in orderto avoid miscalculations which are not readily observable, that theelectrical contact elements of such make and break means be free of anycontact corrosion and other foreign matter which would act to impair theefficiency or dependability of the switch.

A principal object of the present invention therefore is to provide adependable rotary switch means adapted for rapid operation and whichwill act to assure a clean Contact circuit engagement.

Further, the invention provides for sequence switch means including arotatable armature having a circuit contact element thereon adapted forsuccessively bridging groups of sequentially arranged xed contact armsand in which the said circuit bridging element serves also to effect anovel cleaning operation of the circuit engaging areas of the saidcontact arms.

As another object the invention provides rotary switch means in whichpreliminary dead circuit engagement of a circuit bridging element iseffected with successive groups of contact arms and subsequent to eachsaid engagement a live circuit engagement thereof is effected with arelated contact arm corresponding to each of the said groups and whereinsaid element thereafter releases the live circuit contact prior to asubsequent release of the related group of contact arms from saidelement.

Another object of the invention is the provision of sequence switchmeans in which a rotary armature has carried thereon a freely rotatablecircuit bridging element adapted for engagement with successive groupsof resilient contact arms and wherein said groups are arranged in spacedsequential order in an are about the pivot shaft for said amature insuch manner as to made as come within the scope of 2,881,272 PatentedApr. 7, y19.59

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effect a rolling operation of the bridging element over the contact areaof a master contact arm corresponding to each of the said groups.

Another object of the invention resides in the arrangement of adjacentgroups of contact arms wherein a spinning operation is effected to thebridging element in leaving one group of contact arms whereby saidelement effects a whirling engagement with a subsequent group of contactarms.

As a further object the invention provides means for effecting a rollingline to line engagement of the rotatable circuit element with the saidcontact area of the master contact arms of each of said groups.

Another object of theinvention is to provide a bridging contact elementadapted to control the duration of the on and off phase of successiveuniform time circuit signal impulses.

With theabove and other objects in view, the nature of which will appearas the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novelconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially ashereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appendedclaims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodimentof the hereindisclosed invention may be the claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a right side elevation of the switch with the casing beingbroken away to show the sequentially arranged fixed contact pins and thecontact bridging element carried by the rotary armatur Fig. 2 is anenlarged detail view illustrating operation of the bridging contactelement in moving from a dead circuit to live circuit engagement with agroup of the fixed contact arms.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the switch devices looking from theright and showing a clutch means for effecting power operations of theswitch.

Referring to the drawings, the switch device forms a compact unit inwhich the circuit elements are contained within suitable end plates10-11 constructed of dielectric material and which may be mounted to anysuitable support by screw means 12.

Mounted centrally within .end plates 10-11 and extending beyond to theleft thereof is a shaft 13 adapted for rotation by means of a well-knowncyclic clutch device 14 adapted for operation under control of thecomputer devices and in which operation immediate release of the clutchcontrol pawl 15 effects one cycle of operation of shaft 13 whilerepeated operations of the shaft are effected by holding said pawl inoperated condition.

Fast upon shaft 13 is a pair of insulation discs 16, said discs beingtied together and also to the driven portion of clutch 14 by suitabletie rods 17, so that said discs form a rotatable armature of the switchdevices.

Arranged within plates 10-11 and forming a concentric circle around thepivot shaft 13 for armature 16 are a plurality of Support rods 18.Mounted upon all the rods 18 are a plurality of insulation discs 19having a central opening of sufficient size whereby a contact element 20carried by armature 16 is free to revolve therein about shaft 13. Forthe purpose hereinafter described, Contact element 20 is provided withtrunnions 21 bearinged for rotation within the armature discs 16 and inorder that said contact element may be more freely rotated suitableplates 16 secured to the outer face of each disc 16 will act to engagethe end surfaces of the trunnions to maintain a slight clearance betweenthe contact element 20 and the inside face of the discs 16. Mounted uponeach of the rods 18 and being spaced therein in alternate manner witheach of the said discs 19 are four insulation collars 22 around each ofwhich and with a minimum of wear.

partially extends a springleaf contact arm 23, so that 'four contactVarms 23 'are 'arrangedin groupswupon veach of the rods 18. Contact arms23 are each held in position against the respective collars 22 by meansof a pan' of insulating rods '27 extending transversely thereof and`moimted"within end plates lll-lil. The distal end of three of thecontact arms 23 extends uniformly inwardly of the orbit described bycontact'element 2d of armature 16, whereby during counterclockwiseoperation of Varmature 16 said contact element will simultaneouslystrike the said three related arms 23 in each of the successive groups.

The fourth contact arm of each group and identified by the numeral 23has the .corresponding distal end portion thereof bent laway .from therelated group of contacts 23 in the direction of movement of contactroller Ztl. Each contact arm '23Jhas'fast upon the said 'bent portionthereof a contactzmember Ztlraving Ya convex surface, of silveror'otherlike electrical conductive material, which partially fp'rojects vwithinthe orbital movement of the contact roller 20. Three contact arms 23 ofeach `group are connected to normally dead circuit leads 25 extending tosuitable control devices, While the contact arms 23' related to eachgroup are connected by circuit lead 26 to a suitable live circuitcontrol source.

'The arrangement of contact member 24 to the groups of related contactarms 23 is such that duringy operations of armature 16 the contactroller 2t) first simultaneously bridges the three dead contact arms 23of a group and will while still in engagement therewith immediatelythereafter effect an electrical circuit to each of said arms by engagingthe related contact member .24, as illustrated by the dotted lineposition of Fig. 2. It is to be observed that inthe above describedoperation roller 2@ during engagement with Contact arms 23 will befrictionally rotated on the trunnions 21 .and is thereby caused toeffect a rolling engagement across the convex surface of contact member24, so that roller 2d effects an efiicient line to line circuitengagement with contact member 24 As lthe roller 2i) is carried furtherby a continued movement of armature 16 it is caused to be carried 'outof engagement with contact member 24 prior to the release of said rollerfrom the contact arms 23, whereupon the circuit will be broken to thesaid contact arms 23 before their release from roller 2li and will thusavoid any arcing and pitting vat the respective circuit contact areasthereof.

ln such a group of contact arms 23 and particularly wherein said contact'arms present a substantial contact area corrosion and other yforeignmatter may gather thereon and thus adversely affect electrical contactbetween the surfaces thereof and the contact roller 26. In order tominimize such condition and assure of clean efficient electrical contactsurfaces, while at the same time minimizing the impact of roller 20 whenengaging each of the groups of contacts, the contact arms 23 aredisposed angularly for inclined engagement at their tangent point to thecounterclockwise operation of roller 20, as carried by armature 16, andVsaid roller acts to effect novel cooperation 'with contact arms 23, asin the following manner.

As earlier set forth the groups of sequentially arranged fixed contactarms are spaced equally apart. However, if desired one of the groups ofcontacts may be omitted at the normal home position of the switchdevices, as shown in Fig. l. It will be noted that each time armature 16carries roller 26 away from engagement with a group of the resilientVcontact arms 23 said arms inrspringing back to their normal conditionwill act to impart a freely spinning operation to the'contact .roller2i) in a clockwise direction. Intheno'rmal speed of operations 'of theswitch devices `such `,spinning operation will be Vsufficient so thatsubsequent engagement of roller 20 will be Veffected withthe'adjacent'group of contact arms 23 while roller 20 is stillfreely spinning. Thusby virtue of said spinning movement of the roller by armature 16 withrespect to contact arms 23 a whirling engagement of roller 2@ iseffected with contact arms 23 and will act to effect a clean wipingaction on cach of the contact areas thereof.

In the switch devices illustrated in the drawings the diameter ofcontact roller 2S is proportioned relative to the space factor betweenthe adjacent fixed groups of contacts whereby the on circuit time phaseof the switch .is approximately equal to that of the off circuit timephase. Rotary switch devices of the type herein disclosed, however, areapplicable to various uses and it may be that for some uses a longer oncircuit time may be desired to the off circuit time phase, or viceversa. The switch devices herein disclosed are readily adapted to suchvariations by merely substituting for the present roller 29 shown aroller of slightly greater diameter so as to increase theon circuit timephase while .decreasing the off circuit time phase, or, by decreasingthe diameter of the Contact roller slightly a shorter on time circuitwith longer off time of circuit is obtained between the successivegroups. Where even greater lvariations in the on and off time phase aredesired the pivot center for the roller may be shifted slightly so as topermit greater variations to the roller sizes without altering themaximum radius of the orbital path traversed by the rollers around theshaft 13.

While there has been shown and described a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention it will be obvious that changes in form and details ofthe device may be made by those skilled in the art, and it is,therefore, contemplated to cover' by the appended claims any suchmodifications as fall withinthe true spirit and scope of the invention.

What l claim is:

' l. An electric switch comprising a support member having mountedthereon a plurality of electrically insulated contact arms arranged insequentially spaced groups and at least one of which in each group iselectrically inactive and another of which is electrically active, asupport member having insulatedly mounted thereon a contact elementadapted for effecting a bridg ing engagement with successive groups ofthe said contact arms during relative movement between saidsuppOrt'memberS, and wherein said contact arms are disposed relative tosaid movement of the `contact element whereby for each group saidcontact element effects during said successive engagements firstinactive circuit engagement with given inactive onesof said contact armsof a group and thereafter will bridge said inactive contact arms with anactive contact arm of the related group to effect an electrical circuit,and wherein the said contact element will thereafter release the saidactive bridging circuit prior to a release thereof from the first saidengaged contact arms of the related group.

2. An electric switch comprising support means having a freely rotatablecontact element mounted thereon, a support means upon which is mountedresilient contact arms adapted for engagement by said contact .elementduring relative movement between said support means, and wherein aresilient contact arm includes a contact area disposed angularly to saidmovement and another of said contact arms includesy a contact surfacedisposed substantially parallel to said movement, and wherein anengagement of said contact element is effected with the said angularlydisposed contact surface prior to a subsequent engagement of vsaidelement with the said parallelly disposed contact surface, and whereinduring said movement the angularly disposedcontact surface will act tocause a rolling action to the impact of engagement of the rotatablecontact element with the parallelly disposed contact surface. .Y

3. The invention according to claim 2 and wherein the said subsequentlyengaged contact surface includes a convex area extending within the pathof movement relative to the rotatable element whereby said element willeffect a line to line engagement therewith.

4. A sequence switch comprising a support member having mountedstationarily thereon a plurality of sequentially spaced resilientcontact elements, a second support member and having mounted thereon afreely rotatable contact element, means for causing relative movementbetween said support members to effect engagement of the rotatablecontact element with successive groups of the spaced resilient contactelements, and wherein said resilient contact elements during saidengagement are caused to be energized by said movement and will impart afreely spinning operation to the rotatable element when disengagingtherefrom, whereby the said rotatable element subsequently effectswiping action with an adjacent one of said spaced contact elements by awhirling engagement therewith.

5. A sequence switch comprising a xed support member having a pluralityof resilient contact arms insulatedly mounted thereon to formsequentially spaced groups of related electrical contacts, a supportmember movable relative to said first support member and upon which ismounted a freely rotatable electrically insulated contact elementextending transversely of each of said groups of contact arms, andwherein a plurality of said contact arms for each group are inclineduniformly within the path of movement of said contact element, a contactpin related to each group of said contact arms and adapted forengagement by said contact element subsequent to engagement of saidelement with the related group of said contact arms, and whereinengagement of said contact element with said contact arms will act tocause a rolling impact engagement of said contact element with saidrelated contact pins.

6. A rotary sequence switch comprising a xed support means, a pluralityof resilient contact arms spaced thereon in a plurality of uniformconcentric circles so as to form sequentially spaced groups of relatedcontact arms, a rotatable armature bearinged within said support means,a freely rotatable contact element insulatedly carried on said armatureand extending transversely of the groups of said contact arms, andwherein a plurality of Contact arms of each group are included uniformlywithin the path and direction of orbital movement of said contactelement whereby simultaneous bridging engagement of said arms iseffected by said contact element in successive groups with a cushionedimpact, and wherein continued operation of said armature in releasingthe said resilient contact arms will cause said arms to impart aspinning rotational movement to the said contact element whereby asubsequent engagement thereof with an adjacent one of the groups of saidcontact arms is effected with a whirling wiping action.

7. A selector switch comprising a series of sequentially arranged groupsof spaced apart resilient contact members adapted to be connected inseparate branch electrical circuits, a mounting frame for said contactmembers, a rotatable shaft supported therein and having fast thereon aninsulating arm carrying a freely rotatable contact roller adapted in anoperation of said shaft to electrically bridge each of the successivegroups of said resilient contact members, and wherein certain of thebridged contact members are inclined so as to be engaged in angularmanner by said contact roller, and wherein a distal end of a contactmember of each group is bent suiliciently to coincide substantially withthe path of orbital movement of said contact roller by said shaft, acontact pin positioned on each of the said bent end portions and beingengageable by the said contact roller subsequent to an initialengagement of the roller with the related said inclined contact membersand wherein the said contact pin is thereafter disengaged from the saidroller before the roller is released from the related group of saidinclined contact members.

8. The invention according to claim 7 and wherein the groups of contactmembers are angularly disposed to extend coincident with the relatedcontact pin Suthciently so that during an engagement of said roller witheach inclined group of contact members rotation effected to said rollerby said engagement will cause the roller to move across the relatedcontact pin with a rolling action having a minimum of frictiontherewith.

9. The invention according to claim 8 and wherein the resilient contactmembers during release of the contact roller therefrom act to augmentthe rotational movement of said contact roller and impart freelyspinning rotation whereby said roller engages an adjacent group of saidcontact members in a whirling operation adapted to the purpose ofeffecting a wiping action therewith.

l0. The invention according to claim 7 and wherein an on circuit timeinterval relative to an olf circuit time interval as between theengagement of said contact roller with each adjacent group of saidsequentially arranged groups of contact members is adapted to bepredetermined in accordance with a variation in diameter size of saidcontact roller.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,418,616 Batcheller Apr. 8, 1947 2,658,963 Krahulec Nov. l0, 19532,671,836 Auger et al. Mar. 9, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 343,182 France July29, 1904

